Staff Sgt. Koeing was a 1989 graduate of Carrington High School and a former All-American wrestler at North Dakota State.

NDSU wrestling coach Bucky Maughan said former Bison wrestlers called him from around the country after hearing the news of Koenig’s death. “Everybody liked Lance,” Maughan said. “He was just one of those nice, easygoing guys.” Koenig finished second in the NCAA Division II national wrestling tournament as a sophomore and sixth as a junior. Maughan said Koenig joined the National Guard to help pay for college expenses.

Koenig never sought praise or recognition, but would want to be remembered for things such as his calm demeanor, friend Michael Page said. Most of all, he would want to be remembered as a man who loved his wife and children, Page said.

Koenig is survived by his wife, Angie, and their two daughters, Alexandra and Brooklynn.